The Los Angeles Lakers, you may remember, worked out a deal two years ago with the New Orleans Hornets to add Paul, but the NBA, then running the Hornets, rejected the deal at the last second before sending Paul to the Clippers.

Paul has done wonders for the Clippers, who entered the break with the fourth-best record in the NBA at 39-17. They have beaten the Lakers three times this season, compounding the more popular team's woes.

Bryant did get his second superstar in the form of Dwight Howard, but that hasn't worked out so well. They are 25-29 this season, good for 10th in the Western Conference, and Howard is having one of the worst seasons of his career despite being a starting All-Star.

The NBA probably won't punish Bryant for the tweet. The veto was enough.